2016 head-to-head · Midsize Car

2016 Toyota Avalon vs Volkswagen Passat

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$1,938/ year to fuel
24 MPG

FWD · 3.5L 6-cyl · 6-speed automatic · 24 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$1,603/ year to fuel
29 MPG

The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $1,603 a year to fuel (29 MPG), versus $1,938 for the 2016 Toyota Avalon (24 MPG). That's roughly $334 a year, or about $1,670 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Toyota Avalon
  • Volkswagen Passat

Side by side

Toyota AvalonVolkswagen Passat
$1,938 Your annual fuel cost $1,603
24 MPG Combined efficiency 29 MPG
21 MPG City 25 MPG
30 MPG Highway 36 MPG
104 cu ft Passenger volume 102 cu ft
16 cu ft Cargo volume 16 cu ft
365 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 306 g/mi
5/10 EPA fuel economy score 7/10
5/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 7/10
Gas Powertrain Gas
Regular gasoline Fuel Regular gasoline
3.5L 6-cyl Engine / motor 1.8L 4-cyl turbo
6-speed automatic Transmission 6-speed automatic
FWD Drivetrain FWD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Toyota Avalon vs Volkswagen Passat across model years

  • Toyota Avalon
  • Volkswagen Passat

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 67 2016 midsize cars, the Toyota Avalon ranks 40th and the Volkswagen Passat 24th for lowest fuel cost.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2016 Toyota Avalon or the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?

Measured by cost to drive, the Volkswagen Passat. The Toyota Avalon is rated 24 MPG combined and the Volkswagen Passat 29 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2016 Toyota Avalon vs. the Volkswagen Passat per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $1,938 for the Toyota Avalon and $1,603 for the Volkswagen Passat.

Toyota Avalon vs Volkswagen Passat in other years

More 2016 comparisons

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